What I Learned from Jordan Wachtell

I learned yesterday that my former boss, Jordan Wachtell was killed in a tragic car accident last week. The news is shocking. I spent a decade working for Jordan, helping him build a small print brokerage into a large, successful full-service creative agency. He was not always the easiest person to work for, but he is unequivocally responsible for launching my career and helping me become the leader I am today. Jordan was an eccentric, chronic opportunist with boundless energy, ambition and confidence, and above all, he strove to leave a mark on this world. So in the wake of his tragic death, here are some of the lessons I learned—a small contribution to the legacy he built:

The power of persistence.

I vividly remember the guilt and embarrassment I felt early in my career when Jordan insisted that I call our vendors 4, 5, 6 times in a row until I got the answer I needed. An email went unanswered in 5 minutes? Pick up the phone. Something's not ready yet? Send a messenger over and have them wait until it is. What frustrated me the most about these moments, was that it worked. The jobs got done faster. I got answers earlier. It's up to each of us to prioritize what we need from others (and when), but there is no doubt that when it is truly important, being the most annoying person in the room pays off. Just make sure you apologize once the smoke clears.

The value of your time.

The first time I asked for a new computer at work, Jordan had me do a simple exercise. I had to calculate how much time per day I was sitting around waiting for programs to load, multiply that by the amount I earn per hour and compare to the cost of the new equipment. The result was the amount of time it would take for the purchase to pay for itself. It's a method that I have now used hundreds of times over, at work and in my personal life. Are you driving 20 minutes out of your way to pay $0.05 less per gallon of gas? Do you spend 2 hours a week finding online coupons that save you $20? I regularly check in with my team to see what I can do to improve their efficiency, reminding them just how much value is packed into every minute of their time, and insuring that it's never wasted.

Details matter.

Amidst a constant stream of verbal protests, subtle muttering and eye rolling, Jordan would force me to re-print a purchase order 6 times to correct what 22-year old me believed to be the most insignificant of details. "You have the wrong date." "There's a typo in this word." "This line needs to be underlined." It took me years to realize that those tiny details can often be mission-critical. A wrongly dated purchase order could result in a late delivery from a vendor. A typo could easily cause the need for a re-print, and associated sunk cost. Much of my diligent organization and perfectionism today is a result of this learning process. I read every document I produce from the perspective of a lawyer—we take enough risks in business as is, I will not allow something to fail due to carelessness.

Forget your comfort zone.

In life we are often encouraged to step outside of our comfort zones. Working for Jordan, there was no comfort zone. We took risks daily, embracing every situation as an opportunity. We never said "no". As a result, my days were fast-paced and brimming with anxiety. They were also exciting. When we failed we learned from it, and when we succeeded it was that much more rewarding. I couldn't keep up with Jordan's pace long-term, yet the experience was a gift that will last a lifetime. I no longer approach new situations with fear. I have abundant confidence in my ability to solve problems on any scale. Nowadays I do have the luxury of saying no, but I also have the freedom and strength it takes to say yes.

True feminism is invisible.

It's only recently that this last lesson became apparent. I spend a lot of time working with, mentoring and coaching other women, trying to narrow the gender gap and achieve equality in the workplace. I've noticed that in corporate culture, often times the most well-intended male executives end up translating their support of gender equality into the over-protection of the women who work for them. Handling conflict delicately, complimenting profusely, verbalizing support frequently...their hearts are in the right place, but their actions can actually slow women down. When I worked for Jordan, there was no walking on eggshells. I was challenged, criticized, lectured, pushed and pressured on a daily basis. Every day was a test of emotional strength and resilience. It was not easy. But as a result, I grew. Quickly. In 10 years I gained 30 years of experience, and for that I will be forever grateful. Gender lines were so invisible that it wasn't until I left the company that I was able to recognize the true impact of gender bias in my own life and in the workplace at large. Without even knowing it, Jordan was one of the staunchest feminists I've ever met.

It's a sad state of affairs that we too often acknowledge the impact of people we know only after they are gone. Persistence, the value of time, overcoming fear, and invisible feminism are just a small sampling of what I learned from Jordan, and I am only one of the hundreds of lives that he impacted during his time here. Jordan, you were too much of a person to leave the earth so quickly. In sharing this story, I hope to keep your presence alive for a lot longer. Rest in peace my friend.